Key means for shafts and rotors and method of producing same



April 6', 1948. N. w. MoRsE 2,439,019

KEY MEANS FOR SHAFTS AND ROTORS AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAME Filed oct. 9, 194s Patented Apr. 6, 1948 KELY-MEANS FOR SHAFTS ANDROTORS :A'ND `METHOD l0F PROD'UGINGSA'ME Normand W. Morse, Chicago, Ill., assigner, by

mesne assignments, `to Gray-Mills .Corporation,

Evanston, Ill., a corporation of. Illinois Application ctober 9, 19:43, VSerial No.. .505,650

l `11 Claims.

The present invention relates to `key means for a-sh'aft and rotor or the like.

Key means usually comprise axial channels or sockets in the shaft and in the rotor which extend axially and in Which fis usually disposed a key also extending axially- Regardlesslof the means thatfmight be usedto prevent axial relative `moveinent of the sha-ft and rotor there is usually the danger of `movement or loosening of the key in an axial direction. Another form is one wherein there is a transverse bore 'through both the rotor and the shaft, and a pim as .a

cotter pin, extends through the bores, or a `cross the parte, .the shaft and the rotor. together,`

wherein `a simple displacement .or shearing .of a part of the key element, which is a rigid hart of the shaft, may be eiected, to set or look the remainder ofthe key element :in the keyway. Among the objects of the present invention to provide :a key .means and a method oi making the same in which the rotor may have a transverse, as diametrio, kSyWay, as at an end of the rotor, and the sh'aft having a laterally extending, as radial, key element fitting into .such keyway so as `to look the shaft and rotor together thereby. any suitable means being otherwise nsedfsueh as a `thrust nut threaded to an end of the shaft, as at another en d .of the -rotonpreferabiy at the side opposite .from that `Where the key means .is

located.

Another obiect v.of the invention is to provide a keyway and .a Akey element such that the key element will normally 0r initially have a segment thereof extending beyond a border of the keyvray so that when the key element is effected into looked `position :the rotor Will be forced ,against and displace `such segmental portion of the key means whereby the remainder of the key element will be forced into ,and .be 4locked. into the key'way.

A further .object is .to pro-vide the shaft with a `eleanance such as 1an annular channel vprovided the shaft next to the `key element so that the segment is displaced the annular channel will act as a `.oiearance space so as to afford suoli rela-tive axial move-ment .of the rotor and shaft y 2 whereby the `remainder of` 4the key `element will yfit into the kel/Way. l

Other objects, capabilities, advantages, process steps, `features `and. the like are comprehended by the invention as will later appear and as are inherently possessed bythe invention.

Referringbriey to the drawings;

Fig.. .-1 is 'a view in perspective of a device embodying the invention:

Figs. 2, 3 and 1 4 are axial sectional views .of thesame at dii-ferent stages of assembly;

Fig, 5 isa transverse sectional View taken in a plane lrepresented by line 5?-,5 in Fig. 4 of the drawings; Y

Fig. 6 is an axial sectional view of an alternativeform .ofthe invention;

Fig. 7 ,is an axial .sectional view of another alternativeiorm of the invention; and,

Fig. .8 is `a transverse sectional View .of the form shown in Fig. i, Aand taken in a plane represented `by line '8fin Fig. 7 of the drawings :after the portion idc has been sheared off.

Referring Imore in detail to .the drawings, the embodiments chosen to illustrate the invention are shown :as comprising a rotor l having a hub V2 :and suitable radial rotor elements 3, the Ihub 2 having an axial bore A.; and a shaft 5 having a `body portion 6, aneintegral reduced diameter por- :tlon .I' with a threaded end `portion 8 which extends beyond the hub 2 for receiving a thrust nut' and a Washer Il).

Referring to Figs. 1 `to .5, inclusive, at an end .of the Phub :2 `is provided a transverse, as diametu ricai, channel li `constituting a keyway, the keyvvay having side walls I2 which may be tangent to the bore 4 extended or even more remote from the axis `of the bore 4, that is, at a greater distance than the Aradius ofthe bore 4. The chan- `nel or key-way ll may extend Vto the rim of Vthe huh or may run ,short thereof, as being of alength equal to the Adiameterlof the shaft body 6, or any .other .length Ainteimediate the diameter of the bore d and :tghe hub Z, as found convenient and desirablefmanutacturel Referring to Fig. similar `keyway lid is provided in an end of the hub 2 but it is deeper, as shown, to accommodate `for the reception of a plurality .of key elements it and Illa. In the form Show-ri `Fligs. 7 and S asimilar keyWay l ib is provided at an end of the hub 2, secantly relative to the axis of .the shaft part fl, .as shown.

The keyway Hb `has a Side Wall Ilia which may be diametric, .as shown, .but it may be at or along any transverse locus radially within .the .circum- `terence of the key element it.

At the juncture of the shaft segments 6 and 'I may be a shoulder I3 and axially spaced from the shoulder I3 and on the shaft portion 'I is an -annular part or ring -I4 from which is formed a key element to fit into the keyway II, thus providing an annular channelA I5 between the shoulder I3 and the ring I4. The latter is rigid with the shaft part l, as integral therewith, and may be ofv a diameter equal to or greater than or less than the diameter of the shaft part 6, so long as it is initially greater than the Width of the keyway II, or extends beyond thewall I2 and over a part of the end of the hub =2. In the form shown in Fig. 6 there is a plurality of rings I4 and I4a spaced by annular channels I5 and I5a as shown, the depth of the keyway in this form being deeper than of the keyway shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive. In the form shown in Figs. 7 and 8 the keyway I I b which has the transverse or diametric side Wall I2a, is beneath a part I4b of the ring or rkey element I4, While the remainder I4c of the ring or key element I4 overlies the end Iof the hub 2 on the opposite side of the wall I2a, as clearly shown in particular in Fig. 7.

To form and set or lock the key element in the keyway, the nut 9 is turned to draw the shaft axially in the hub 2; downwardly as shown in the drawing. Figs. 2, 6 and 7 show the parts before the hub 2 is forced against the key element. The key element I4 or I4a extends acrossrthewidth of the keyway II and has segmental parts I6 that overlap the end of the hub 2 adjacent the side Walls I2 of the keyway II. The key element I4 shown in Figs. '7 and 8, has its part I4b overhanging the side wall I2@ and opposite the keyway I Ib and its p-art Illc opposed to the end portion IBa of the hub 2 at the opposite side of the side wall I 2a. VAs the nut is turned and tightened the. end of the hub thrust against the said segment portion I6 or Ido will cause a displacement or shearing of the latter, Fig. 3 showing a part displacement or shearing of the segments I6, and a part entry of the remainder of the key element into the keyway II, Further tightening of the nut 9 will further displace or shear the segment I6 or I4c so that the remainder of the key element I4 will t and be locked into the keyway I I or IIb, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and in Fig. 8. In the form shown in Fig, 6 the same function and result rwill be effected by the end of the hub 2 displacing or shearing segments successively from the key elements I4a and I4 so that the remaining portions of the key elements will fit and be locked in the deeper keyway II.

In Fig. 8 the portion I 4c of the key element I4 has been displaced or sheared off, as shown by a dotted line representation in Fig. 8, and the remainder I4h is in the keyway IIb and locked with the side wall IZa. The shoulder I3 may or may not be in contact with the end of the hub 2.

If the segments I6 or I 4c be sheared off (see Fig. 5 or Fig. 8) the shaft may be drawn axially until the shoulder I3 abuts the end of the hub 2, but this is not necessary, so long as the key element is in the keyway. The key element may be in the keyway Wholly or partly, that is, it may be entirely down in the keyway, as shown in Figs. 4 and 8, or only part way down, as shown in Fig. 3, and still be in locked condition. In the latter case the displaced segments may remain and may be abutted by the shoulder I3, yet this is not essential.

The term "disp1ace is herein used to compre- 4 hend shearing, as to severance, or mere deforming.

While I have herein described and upon the drawings shown a few embodiments of the invention and the method of producing the same, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may comprehend other constructions, details, arrangements of parts, process steps, features and the like, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. A key means for a shaft and a rotor having a bore forv receiving the shaft comprising the provision in the rotor of a keyway having a border disposed transversely to the axis of the rotor and shaft, a laterally extending key element rigid with said shaft and extending transversely of the keyway with a segment thereof extending beyond the border of the keyway and overlapping the rotor adjacent said border, and tightening means connected to said shaft and A bearing against said rotor to `force the rotor against said segment to displace it and force the remainder of the key element into said keyway in locked position therein and with said border.

2. A key means for a shaft and a rotor having a bore for receiving the shaft comprising the provision in an end of the rotor of a keyway having a border transversely disposed to the axis of the rotor and shaft, said shaft having a rigid key element extending laterally from said shaft and crosswise of said keyway and said border for fitting into said keyway adjacent said border to lock the rotor and the shaft from relative rotation, said shaft having a tightening means reacting against said rotor to hold said key element in locked position in said keyway and adjacent said border, said'shaft having a transversely extending channel adjacent said key element at the side opposite from said rotor. Y

3. A key means for a shaft and a rotor having a bore for receiving the shaft comprising the provision in an end of the rotor of a keyway having a border transversely disposed to the axis of the rotor and shaft, said shaft having a rigid key element extending laterally from said shaft and crosswise of said keyway and said border for fitting into said keyway adjacent said border to lock the rotor and the shaft from relative rotation, said shaft being provided with a lateral recess adjacent said key element and on 'the opposite side of the key element from that of the rotor en-d. l

4. A key means for a shaft and a rotor having a bore for receiving the shaft comprising the provision in an end of the rotor of a keyway having a border transversely disposed to the axis of the rotor and shaft, said shaft having a rigid key element extending radially from the shaft and fitting in said keyway adjacent said border to lock the rotor and the shaft from relative rotation, sal-d shaft having an annular channel a'djacent the key element at the side opposite from the rotor.

5. A key means for a shaft and a rotor having a bore for receiving the shaft comprising the provision in an end of the rotor of a keyway having a border transversely disposed to the axis of the rotor and shaft, said shaft having a rigid key element extending radially from the shaft and extending crosswise of the keyway with a segment of said key element extending beyond the border of the keyway and overlapping the rotor adjacent said border, said shaft having an annular channel adjacent the key element at the side opposite from the rotor to afford a clearance for displacement of said segment, and tightening means connected to said shaft and bearing against said rotor to force the rotor against said segment to displace it and force the remainder of the key element into said keyWay in locked position therein and adjacent said border,

6. A key means for a shaft and a rotor having a bore for receiving the shaft, comprising the provision in the rotor of a keyway disposed transversely to the axis thereof, said shaft having a reduced diameter portion for fitting axially in the bore of the rotor and having a shoulder at the juncture of the reduced diameter portion of the shaft and the remainder of the shaft, said reduced diameter portion having a rigid key element in axial spaced relation to said shoulder and extending radially, said key element being of a Width to fit into said keyway.

7. The method of keying together two members such as a rotor and a shaft Which comprises the steps of forming an annular Wale concentric with the axis on one of the two members, of forming on the other member a recess normal to the members axis and having at least one Wall non-concentric with the periphery of the Wale and spaced therefrom at one point by a distance radially from the members axis Which is less than the outside radius and equal to or greater than the inside radius of the annular Wale, and of forcing said annular Wale into said recess so that said Wall will shear off a part of the annular Wale to establish a locking engagement between the two parts.

8. The method of keying a rotor to a shaft which comprises the steps of forming an annular Wale integrally on the shaft, of cutting a slot transversely of the rotor hub having a Width less than the outside `diameter and equal to or greater than the inside diameter of the annular Wale, and of forcing the annular Wale into the slot so that walls of the slot cut off portions of the annular Wale.

9. The method of keying a rotor to a shaft which comprises the steps of reducing the diameter of the end of a shaft to receive the journal of the rotor, of cutting an annular channel in the shaft close to the reduced portion to form an annular Wale, of cutting a channel having a Width less than the outside diameter and equal to or greater than the inside diameter of said annular Wale across the hub of the rotor and the journal, and of forcing the transverse channel against the annular Wale so as to shear o portions of the Wale and establish a non-rotatable relationship between the rotor and the shaft.

10. The method of keying a rotor to a shaft which comprises the steps of reducing the diameter` of the end of a shaft to receive the journal of the rotor, of cutting an annular channel in the shaft close to the reduced portion to form an annular Wale, of cutting a channel having a width less than the outside diameter and equal to or greater than the inside diameter of said annular Wale. across the hub of the rotor and the journal, of threading the end of the shaft, of mounting the rotor on the reduced end of the shaft With the transverse channel abutting the annular Wale, and of drawing a nut up on the threaded end portion against the rotor so as to cause th'e Walls of the channel to shear nterfering portions of the annular Wale.

11. The method of keying together two members Which comprises the steps of forming a Wale around one member, of forming an opening in the other member having a conguration that will not register With the periphery of the Wale and does intercept the periphery of the Wale on the first member, and of forcing the opening in the second member onto the Wale of the rst member so as to shear portions of the Wale and establish a non-rotatable relationship therebetween.

NORMAND W. MORSE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the nie of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 693,247 Edwards Feb. 11, 1902 814,020 Clifford Mar. 6, 1906 1,397,848 Wood Nov. 22, 1921 2,268,787 Wales Jan, 6, 1942 2,276,050 Leighton Mar. 10, 1942 2,328,328 Curtis Aug, 31, 1943 

